Jobs/By role/Textile Designer
Textile Designer jobs
A textile designer creates the prints, patterns and fabric surfaces that give a collection its identity, working from initial sketches through to production-ready repeats. Also known as print designers or surface designers, they're hired by fashion houses, knitwear labels and textile mills that need original fabric stories season after season. This page lists current openings for the role across vetted European fashion employers.
Also hired as: print designer · surface designer
Open Textile Designer roles
No open Textile Designer roles right now
New roles are added daily. Set a job alert below, or browse everything that is live across the index.
Browse all open roles →Salary guide
What does a Textile Designer earn?
Ranges come from our Textile Designer salary guide, maintained per level for the European market. Individual listings state their own range when the company shares one.
Full Textile Designer salary guide →The role, in practice
Working as a Textile Designer
The day-to-day craft
Most days revolve around developing print and pattern concepts that will eventually sit on fabric, from hand-painted or digitally drawn artwork through to clean, production-ready repeats. You'll build colour palettes, adapt designs across different fabric bases, and liaise with mills or in-house technical teams to check how a print behaves once it's woven, knitted or printed at scale.
What hiring managers look for
A strong portfolio matters more than any single qualification, showing range across placements, borders, jacquards or engineered prints alongside a clear personal style. Confidence with design software such as Photoshop, Illustrator or specialist textile CAD tools like NedGraphics or Kaledo is expected, and many employers value a working knowledge of fabric construction, dyeing and printing methods. Language skills help too, especially where design teams work closely with mills and suppliers across different countries.
How the career develops
Most textile designers start as juniors or assistants, building repeats and colourways under a senior designer before taking on their own ranges. With experience, the path can lead to senior or head of print roles, freelance consultancy across several labels, or a move into trend forecasting.
Common questions
Becoming a Textile Designer
What qualifications do you need to become a textile designer?
Most employers look for a degree or diploma in textile design, fashion design or a related art and design subject, though a strong portfolio can outweigh formal qualifications. Skills in hand illustration, colour theory and design software are usually essential, and some roles ask for experience with specific textile CAD programs. Many designers build their first portfolio through internships or freelance projects before landing a full-time role.
How much can a textile designer expect to earn?
Pay varies widely depending on the label, seniority and location, so it's worth checking individual job listings for specific figures. Junior roles typically pay less than senior or head of print positions, and freelance rates depend on the client and project scope. There isn't a single standard rate across the industry, so researching typical pay for your region and experience level is a sensible first step.
What's the difference between a textile designer and a print designer?
In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably, and many employers advertise the same role under either title. Textile designer tends to cover the wider discipline, including weave, knit and surface pattern, while print designer can imply a narrower focus on printed artwork specifically. The exact scope usually depends on the label and its product mix, so it's worth reading the individual job description.
Get new roles in your inbox
A weekly alert with the best new fashion roles across Europe — tuned to the disciplines and cities you care about.